Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Shapeshifters #2 Review

Come check The Storyteller: Shapeshifters #2 by BOOM! Studios and see the moving tale of an Apache woman in multiple stages of her life.

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JIM HENSON’S THE STORYTELLER: SHAPESHIFTERS #2 (OF 4)

Writer: Darcie Little Badger
Artist: Alexandra Fastovets
Colorist: James Fenner
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Editor: Allyson Gronowitz
Publisher: Archaia imprint of BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: April 6th, 2022

Previously in The Storyteller: Once a television show from Jim Henson, this comic takes that same legacy and presents it in a comic medium. Come join the Storyteller and his trusty dog companion as they tell another new tale!

BORN TO DANCE

The Storyteller: Shapeshifters #2 begins with a comment from the dog about the plants dancing in the wind. This reminds the Storyteller of the Reed People. He tells the story of Rose, an Apache child who loved to dance. She made friends with the Reed people who lived by the river, but they only revealed themselves to Rose and no one else. Rose grew up and became a professional ballet dancer. When she returned home, she learned her ancestral dance from the Reed People. When her mother died, she noticed that people were building on the land where she met the Reed People and assumed them lost.

After growing old, Rose is placed in a facility for elders when she finally sees the Reed people again. They invite her out to the country to dance forever.

STAGES OF LIFE

I picked up this title to enjoy a little bit of culture and fun stories. The Storyteller: Shapeshifters #2 is the first issue in the series that really made me think and ponder. There are a lot of subtle messages here. The comments about Rose not being “principal dancer” material and comments about why the traditional dances were lost show subtle racism towards Rose. And it is so subtle that it is easy to ignore. But for me, it was so present in all three of my read-throughs that I was just a little sad. I have experienced cultural dysphoria in my own Chinese heritage, and this comic reflects on that beautifully. Great, conscious work here by Darcie.

But back to the story, we see Rose grow up in the comic. She goes through four significant stages of life, and it is always centered around her love of dancing and her heritage. It is a beautiful interpretation of a character with positive and negative experiences and how she chooses to react. This was great to read on the page, and it is nice to see a complete story in just a single comic.

BOTTOM LINE: MUST-READ

I think this is the best comic I have read in 2022. The Storyteller: Shapeshifters #2 has excellent writing and detailed art. You can see the emotion on people’s faces, and there are distinctions as the characters age. But most importantly, it brings to light a topic that doesn’t get enough attention. This comic is a 4.5 out of 5 and a must-read title, in my humble opinion.

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